Absorption refrigerating apparatus



March 28, 1939.

R. ISHNELSON ABSORPTION REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed July 1'7, 1955 Patented Mar. 28,1939 n I [2,152,269

; or other fluid and at the same time to promote the the absorber. The absorber is provided with UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ABSORPTION REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Rudolph 8. Nelson, Rockford, 111., assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 17. 1933, Serial No. 680,748; Renewed August 16, 1938 I 10 Claims (01. 62-1195) This invention relates to continuous absorption Referring to the drawing in detail, Figure 1 refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to illustrates a continuous absorption refrigerating means adapted to be associated with an ordinary unit consisting of a boiler B, a gas separation household absorption refrigerating unit for coolchamber 5, a condenser C, an evaporator E, and

5 ing drinking water, beer and the like and for an absorber A, all of which vessels are connected 6 maintaining the same cold. byvarious conduits to make up a system of a Another important object of the invention remore or less conventional sort. lates to the utilization of a portion of the liquid This system may be charged with ammonia, refrigerant in the evaporator, and preferably the water and hydrogen and be operated in accord- 10 residue refrigerant therein, to promote the cir-- ance with known principles. A small conduit ll 10 culation of the inert gas commonly employed in is connected to the top of the boiler B so as to continuous absorption systems. This circulation act as a, gas liit pump and convey absorption liqis accomplished withoutthe aid of any moving uid and refrigerant gas from the boiler into the parts or the application of external heat. separator 5. The upper portion of the gas sep- In continuous absorption'refrigerating appaaratingchamber is provided with baflle plates I2 15 ratus of the type using aninert gas as a pressure which act as a rectifier and above this point the equalizing medium,,it is customary to provide a chamber 5 is connected by means of a conduit gas heat exchanger between the evaporator and I3 to the condenser. As the condensed refrigthe absorber to effect an economy of operation erant is liquefied it flows through the conduit I 4 as the inert gas circulates between these vessels. into the evaporator. d

It "is an object of the present invention to con- The absorption liquid weakened in the boiler struct the gas heat exchanger mentioned above and the gas separating chamber leaves the latter so as to adapt it to'the cooling of drinking water through the conduit l5 and'flows into the top 01' rapid circulation of the inert gas in its circuit. 'baflle plates as indicated in It. The absorption 25 It is a further object ofthe invention to proliquid flows down over these plates and then flows vide an arrangement which may be associated back to the boiler through the conduit 11. The with a gas heat exchanger oi. the type mentioned conduits l5 and I1 may be in heat exchange relaor with other parts 01' anabsorption rei'rigertion as illustrated. a

An auxiliary pressure equalizing medium such mpe ure 1 1 h P po Of 01 8, drinking as hydrogen or other inert gas is circulated bewater or other fluid to a temperature suillciently tween the evaporator and the absorber. This low to make it palatable. gas circuit may include the heat exchanger shown Other objects and advantages reside in certain in detail in Figure 2. As shown, this device may novel features 01' the arrangement and the conconsist of a vertically disposed cylinder 2| having 35 stru tion of th pa ts f he apparatus soas to a vertically extending conduit 22 passing centrally. provide a simple construction and permit a comtherethrough. Baiile plates or deflectors 23 are pact assembly and in certain other features as locatedat spaced points along the interior of the will be apparent from a consideration oi the' cylinder It so as to cause the gases flowing down- 40 following description taken in connection with wardly 1n the cylinder 2| to pass across the outer the a comp nying dr win in which: surface of the central pipe 22. The upper end Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a continuous or the pipe 22 is connected to the top 01 the evapabsorp i n r fr n pp us th p orator by the conduit 24 and conveys gas i'rom using an inert gas with means constructed in acthe top or the pipe 22 into the evaporator. The Y cordance with the present invention for cooling onduit 24 may also house the refrigerant supply 45 drinking water associated with thegas heat exconduit M as indicated. in Figure 1- h thereof- The lower end of the evaporator is connected Fi ure 2 s a v w in elevation a tion of to the top of the cylinder by means of a conthe apparatus in Figure 1, certain parts being cut d n; 25, q away or shown in cross section to better illustrate A indicated in Figure 1 the lower end of the 50 the construction f cylinder 2| may be connected to the top 01' th i ure 3isa view in e vation-0f a fragmentary absorber above the name plates It by means oi portion of am dlfi d rn of the nvention, cera conduit 26 while the lower portion of the abtain parts being cut away or shown in cross secsorber is connected to the central pipe 22 .01 the i5 tion. 1 gas heat exchanger by means oi conduit 21.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that in the arrangement just described, the refrigerant will pass through a cycle from the boiler B through the conduit I i, gas separating chamber 5, conduit i3, condenser C, conduit i4, evaporator E, conduit 25, the cylinder 2| through conduit 26 into the absorber and thence through the conduit l'l back to the boiler.

The absorption liquid will pass through a cycle from the boiler B, through the gas lift pump, conduit ii, lower portion of the gas separating chamber 5, the conduit I5, and through the absorber A", back to the boiler through the conduit The inert gas will pass through a cycle starting with the evaporator E, downwardly over the baflle plates i8 therein, through the conduit 25, the cylinder 2|, the conduit 28, and downwardly through the absorber and thence through the conduit 2'| upwardly through the central pipe 22 and back to the evaporator through the conduit 24. As is well known, the inert gas rising from the absorber is not only relatively free from the refrigerant but is also relatively warm because of the heat given off in the absorption of the refrigerant by the absorption fluid in the absorber. This relatively warm and pure inert gas passes upwardly through conduit 22 and heats the residue liquid refrigerant passing downwardly over baiiles 23 causing the evaporation thereof. This evaporation takes place into the inert gas within chamber 2| and cools the same, thus increasing the density of the inert gas. It is at once apparent that the density of the refrigerant gas and of the inert gas within casing 2| considerably over-balances the weight of the relatively warm and pure inert gas in the other vertical leg 22 g of the gas circuit. The result is a rapid circulation of the inert gas through its circuit and greatly increased emciency in this portion of the apparatus all of which is obtained with a very simple and inexpensive arrangement of parts and without the introduction of moving parts into the system.

It will thus be seen that as the cold gases pass downwardly through the cylinder 2| of the gas heat exchanger they will take up heat from the gases passing upwardly through the pipe 22. In

accordance with the principles of the present invention heat may also be taken up by the cold gases passing downwardly in the upper portion of the cylinder 2| from drinking water or the like which is to be cooled. To bring the drinking water into heat transfer relation with the cold gases, a coil of pipe 28 is provided around the upper portion of the cylinder 2|. The top of the coil 28 is connected by 'means of a conduit 29to a supply pipe 38 and to a reservoir 3| which may be suitably insulated as by means of insulating jacket 32. The lower end of the coil 28 is. connected by means of a conduit 33 to a discharge pipe 34 and to a conduit 35 connected to the bottom of the reservoir 3|. The conduit 38 may be connected to city water mains and a valve may be provided in the conduit 34 for regulating the flow of water through the drinking water cooling system.- For the cooling of beer, the conduit 38 may be connected to a barrel maintained under pressure by carbon dioxide gas or the like. Thus, the arrangement may be such that when no fluid to be cooled is entering through the conduit 38 or leaving through the conduit 34 a local cycle for the flOW'Of the fluid between the coil '28 and the reservoir 3! will be set up-due to tliermosiphon efiect.

' around the vessel 44 as indicated at 41.

ciated directly with the evaporator of a refrig crating system. Such an arrangement has the disadvantage that some of the cooling effect available for cooling a food storage compartment or the like is used up in cooling the drinking water thus rendering the apparatus less efficient.

In accordance with the present invention, however, the drinking water iscooled without unduly increasing the load on the system. The gas heat exchanger may be located outside of the food storage compartment of the refrigerator cabinet and since this portion of the heat exchanger is colder than the surrounding air it normally takes up heat from the atmosphere. Since the temperature of the gas heat exchanger is ordinarily at least as low as the temperature on the inside of the refrigerator 'cabinet, it provides an excellent means for cooling drinking water to a temperature which makes the water palatable for human consumption.

Where drinking water is desired at a temperature somewhat lower than the temperature normally prevailing in the gas heat exchanger or for use in those types of apparatus where the gas heat exchanger operates at a slightly higher temperature than the refrigerator cabinet, the arrangement of Figure 3 may be employed. In this arrangement the gas heat exchanger is somewhat similar to that of the arrangement of Figure 2 in that it includes a cylinder which is vertically disposed as indicated at 48 and a pipe or conduit 4| located centrally thereof and extending from end to end. In the arrangement of Figure 8, the conduit 42 connects the upper portion of the cylinder 48 to the top of the evaporator E. The lower portion of the evaporator E is connected by means of a conduit 43 with a small auxiliary evaporator made up of a cylinder 44 provided with a number of baiiie plates 45 on tion 48 prevents the flow of gases from the top of the cylinder 48 into the vessel 44. A coil for cooling drinkingwater or the like may be wrapped This coil may be associated with the reservoir as indicated in Figure 2 or drinking water may pass through this coil in the direction indicated by the arrows without the use of any reservoir.

It will be noticed that in the arrangement of Figure 3 the inert gas passes out of the evaporator through the lower conduit 43 into the auxiliary evaporator vessel 44 then downwardly through the central pipe '4|. This pipe may be connected to the top of the absorber similarto the arrangement in Figure 1 so that the inert gas after it passes downwardly through the absorber returns to the evaporator through the-outer cylinder 48 of the gas heat exchanger and through the gas conduit 42.

It iswell known that a refrigerant does not always completely evaporatein the main evaporator ofa refrigerating system and it is proposed in accordance with the principles of the present invention to .cause this portion of the refrigerant to evaporate in the auxiliary evaporator 44, this vessel being at a higher temperature than the main evaporator E. The refrigerant will still evaporate at a s'ufliciently low temperature to cool the drinking water, however. The vessel 43 and the gas heat exchanger are preferably located I contained in residue liquid in the bottom of the evaporator of a continuous out departing from the spirit of the invention or I the scope of the annexed claims.

I claim: 1. In a continuous absorption refrigerating system of the type in which an inert gas is used as a pressure equalizing medium, the combination with the evaporator and the absorber thereof, of a.

conduit for conveying the inert gas from the evaporator to the absorber and a'conduit for conveying the inert gas from the absorber to the evaporator, a portion of the first mentioned conduit being located below the evaporator and so connected to the evaporator that theliquid refrigthe evaporator may flow erant not evaporated in into said portion and produce additional cooling by evaporating therein'at a higher temperature than that normally prevailing in the evaporator, said second mentioned conduit being disposed in heat transfer relation with said portion and liquid conveying means independent of said system disposed in heat transfer relation with said portion of said first mentioned conduit, the arrangement being such thatheat is transferred from said liquid conveying means and from the inert gas in said second inentioned conduit to the cold inert gas passing from the evaporator through said portion and also to the liquid refrigerant passing from the evaporator through said portion.

2. The method of utilizing the cooling capacity contained inresidue liquid refrigerant rem ning in the bottom of the evaporator of a con inuous absorption refrigeration system employing an auxiliary pressure equalizing medium method comprises passing relatively warm portions of the equalizing medium in heat exchange relation to, said residue to causeevaporation of the same, and passing a fluid to be cooled into heat exchange relation, said evaporating residue and independently of said system.

3. The method of utilizing the cooling capacity absorption refrigeration system having an evaporator and an absorber located in a fluid circuit system employing an auxiliary pressure equalizing medium, which method comprises passing relatively warm portions of the equalizing medium in heat exchange relation, but out of contact with said residue, evaporating said residue into other portions of said equalizing medium, whereby some heat is withdrawn from said equalizing medium to increase the density of portions:v of the medium to promote the rapid passing a fluid to be cooled into heat exchange relation, but out of contact with said evaporating residue and independently of said system whereby heat is withdrawn from said fluid to cool the same.

-4. The method of operating a refrigerating system of the continuous absorption type employing an evaporator and an absorber in circuit and using a pressure equalizing medium, which com- "priseslutilizing a portion of the liquid refrigerant not utilized in the main evaporator to promote the circulation of the equalizing medium and to cool another liquid, said method including the steps of bringing relatively warm portions of said medium into heat exchange relation, but out of contact with said refrigerant to facilitate-the" evaporation thereof whereby the density of at least a porwhich but out of contact with refrigerant remaining circulation thereof, andtion of-the medium in the equalizing medium cir cuit is increased, and passing another liquid into heat exchange relation but out of contact with said evaporating refrigerant and independently of said system whereby said liquid is cooled.

5. The method of operating a refrigerating systemof the continuous absorption type employing an evaporator and an absorber in circuit and using a pressureequalizing medium, which comprises using a portion of the liquid refrigerant not utilized in the main evaporator to cool another liquid by bringing relatively warm portions of the medium into heat exchange relation, but out of contact with said refrigerant to facilitate the v of the same, and passing said other evaporation liquid into heat-exchange relation, but out of contact with the refrigerant as it evaporates to thus cool said liquid.

6. In a continuous absorption refrigerating system of the type using a refrigerant medium and {an auxiliary pressure equalizing medium, the

combination with the evaporator and absorber thereof, of a gas heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and pressure equalizing mediums and-having a portion located below said evaporate, a liquid conduit disposed in heat transfer relation with said portion of'the gas heat exchanger ,and means independent of said refrigerating system for supplying liquid to be cooled to said conduit and for conveying the same away from said conduit, the arrangement being such that the temperature of the liquid is lowered as it passes through said conduit and heat is transferred from the liquid in the'conduit to one of said mediums in the heat exchanger.

7. In a continuous absorption refrigerating system of the type using a refrigerant medium and an auxiliary pressure equalizing medium, the combination with the evaporator and the absorber thereof of a gas heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and pressure equalizing mediums and having a portion located below said evaporator, in heat transfer relation with said portion of the gas heat exchanger, a device forming a reservoir located below said liquid conduit, means in-' dependent of said refrigerating system adapted to circulate liquid between and through said conduit and said device liquid to said circulating, means at one portion thereof and for removing liquid from another portion thereof, the arrangement being such that the temperature of the liquid is lowered as it passes through said conduit and heat is transferred from the liquid in the conduit to one of said mediums in the heatexchanger.

8. In a continuous absorption refrigerating system of the type using a refrigerant medium and an auxiliary pressure equalizing medium, the combination with the main evaporator and the absorber thereof, of means auxiliary-medium between and through the evaporator and the absorber, said means including a. heat exchanger for exchanging heat between said mediums'and having a small auxiliary evaporator located below the main evaporator and adapted to receive unevaporated refrigerant from the main evaporator, a conduit independent of said refrigerating system for conveying liquid into heat transfer relation with said auxiliary evaporator and means for supplying liquid tosaid conduit and for removing liquid therefrom, the arrangement being such that the temperature of the liquid is lowered as it passes through said conduit and heat is transferred from the liquid in the and means for supplying for circulating the a liquid conduit disposed conduit to the refrigerant in the auxiliary evapin the conduit to the refrigerant in the auxiliary orator thereby causing the latter to evaporate evaporator and to the auxiliary medium flowing at a higher temperature than the temperature therethrough. of the main evaporator; 10. In a continuous absorption refrigerating 5 9. In a continuous absorption refrigerating system of the type using a refrigerant medium 5 system of the type using a refrigerant medium and an auxiliary pressure equalizing medium, the and an auxiliary pressure equalizing medium, the combination with the main evaporator and the combination with the main evaporator and the absorber thereof, of means for circulating the absorber thereof, of means for circulating the auxiliary medium between and through the evap- 10 auxiliary medium between and through the evaporator and the absorber, said means including a 10 orator and the absorber, said means including heat exchanger for exchanging heat between a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between said mediums and having a small auxiliary evapsaid mediums and having a small auxiliary evaporator located below the main evaporator and orator located below the main evaporator and adapted to receive unevaporated refrigerant from 15 adapted to receive unevaporated refrigerant from the main evaporator, means associated with said 15 the main evaporator, a conduit independent of auxiliary evaporator but providing a fluid cirsaid refrigerating system for conveying liquid into cuit out of communication therewith, and means heat transfer relation with said auxiliary evapfor circulating fluid through said fluid circuit orator and means for supplying liquid to said independently of said system whereby heat is 20 conduit and for removing liquid therefrom, the transferred from said fluid to said refrigerating 20 arrangement being such that the temperature medium. of the liquid is lowered as it passes through said RUDOLPH S. NELSON. conduit and heat is transferred from the liquid 

